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What will I study?

Overview

Majors (focus your undergraduate degree)

We offer an exceptional diversity and depth of majors to match your career goals – with more than 40 areas of specialisation, from languages and psychology, through to economics and media and communication.

Course structure

First year

You will complete at least one Arts Foundation subject from a choice of six. These subjects introduce concepts, ideas and principles that are central to all endeavours in Arts. You will also take Arts discipline subjects and breadth subjects.

Second year

By your second year, you will have a better understanding of the Arts disciplines offered and be able to finalise your selection of majors and minors. You will complete the second-year subjects in your major(s).

Third year

In third year, you will undertake a capstone subject in your major(s), designed to draw together your fields of specialisation and prepare you for life as a graduate. You will also take the remaining third-year subjects to complete your degree.

Fourth year

Honours is an optional fourth year of study that gives you the opportunity to draw together your previous studies and focus your knowledge, skills and intellect on an exciting piece of original research. Honours can further prepare you for employment, or graduate research.

Your breadth studies

Breadth is a unique feature of the Melbourne Model. It gives you the chance to explore subjects outside of arts, developing new perspectives and learning to collaborate with others who have different strengths and interests — just as you will in your future career.

Some students use breadth to explore creative interests or topics they have always been curious about. Others use breadth to improve their career prospects by complementing their major with a language, communication skills or business expertise. Many discover new passions through breadth and some even change their career plans!

'Breadth tracks' (groups of breadth subjects in the same sort of study area taken throughout your degree) may even qualify you for graduate study in a field that's very different to your major.

Explore this course

Explore the subjects you could choose as part of this degree.

Majors

Your major is your chosen specialisation. You’ll develop a deep understanding of your major study area from first to third year. In most degrees, you won’t need to select your major on day one. In first year you’ll be able to explore a range of subject areas you’re interested in, so by the time it comes to choosing your major, you’ll be well informed. All the while, you’ll also be studying an exciting selection of subjects from both inside and outside your discipline, gaining a breadth of knowledge that will set you apart.

Explore the majors available in this degree below.

Majors

Ancient World Studies

Ancient World Studies

Ancient World Studies embraces the broad study of Classical Greece and Rome, as well as Egypt and the Near East from 3000 BCE to the 4th century CE. Students can choose a variety of subject streams, which combine the study of ancient languages and/or texts in translation such as myth, literature, history, and philosophy with the study of archaeology, art, and architectural monuments. In addition, students can focus on a particular time period, geographic region, technical specialisation such as myth or ceramics, or thematic area of study. Students will gain insight into and understanding of contemporary society by exploring how ancient cultures have contributed to the development of our modern world, with regard to gender and ethnic identity, warfare, colonialism and imperialism, the propagandistic power of literary and visual imagery, and technology and economy. They will develop skills in research, writing, analysis, and communication that promote career flexibility.

Anthropology

Anthropology is the study of people’s common humanity as well as the extraordinary cultural and social diversity found around the globe. Its distinctive methodology, based on intense, long-term participation in people’s daily lives, allows for ideas to develop out of local experience and knowledge. Contemporary fieldwork is as likely to take place in an urban tower block or tourist resort or moving with migrants or refugees, as it would be in a remote village in Africa or an island community in Melanesia. This major invites participation in subjects on: diverse ideas about the body; belief and religious practices; the growth of consumption and commodification, ethnic and national identity, and constructions of nature, sex, family and gender. The course we offer will expand your horizons by challenging your taken-for-granted understanding of the world, and it will also provide you with the skills needed to work successfully with people, to listen, to think critically, and to be fully engaged in an ever more expanding world.

Arabic Studies

The Arabic Studies program offers an integrated way of studying Arabic language and aspects of Arab culture. Beyond studying the language itself, students also have the opportunity to acquire a significant amount of knowledge about the nature of living, seeing, acting and interacting in the 'Arab way'. With the development of students' language proficiency, there will be a growing emphasis on reflection on, as well as critical awareness and discussion of issues related to Arabic literature and the realms of history, Arab society and religion in the Arab World.

Arabic language subjects are organised in a progressive sequence (of units) from Arabic 1 through to Arabic 10. Entry points are determined by the student’s background in the language, placement testing, prerequisites, or at the discretion of the Arabic Studies program. Students normally progress through the subjects in consecutive order. Mid-year entry is also possible into subjects with even numbers, subject to appropriate prior experience and approval from the head of the Arabic Studies program.

Art History

The Art History program is the premier provider of art historical scholarship in Australia. Thematic and interdisciplinary subjects deal with the theories of art history, art and the market, prints, and other issues. Areas of specialisation include late antiquity, Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, 18th and 19th century European art, modernism and postmodernism, contemporary art, Indigenous Australian art, and international art.

Asian Studies

Knowledge about Asia is a crucial national asset at a time of rapid globalisation and social change. The Asian Studies program at the University of Melbourne is one of the largest in Australia and comprises a comprehensive range of subjects in the intellectual, cultural, political and religious traditions of Asia, with a focus on China, Indonesia, Japan and South-east Asia. Asian Studies subjects are taught in English and do not require language prerequisites. Study abroad programs are available and Asialink offers a stimulating program of events and activities with an Asian focus.

Australian Indigenous Studies

Australian Indigenous Studies is a value-driven program guided by the principles of interdisciplinarity, intellectual exchange, and social relevance. Australian Indigenous Studies offers students perspectives on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and culture. Subjects offered reflect the rich diversity of the field. Themes include contemporary Indigenous cultural production, key thinkers and concepts, Settler and Indigenous environmental ethics, Aboriginal women and coloniality, and issues relating to land, law and philosophy.

Chinese Societies

The Chinese Societies minor acquaints students with the literature and cultural history of China. It provides students with the foundation for further work at the graduate level in Chinese, Asian Studies or allied fields (linguistics, culture, history, literature, religion, and regional studies). It is an excellent general preparation for entry to professions, such academic teaching and research, foreign service, diplomacy, translation, business, import and export of information and culture, museums and libraries, tourism, and the like.

Chinese Studies

The Chinese Studies program at the University of Melbourne is one of the largest Chinese programs in Australia. The language subjects (taught at a range of levels, from beginner to advanced) are designed to maximise acquisition of the language and to develop their communication skills in various types of texts, interactional contexts and strategic aspects of meaning making. The curriculum also allows students to develop a broad understanding of cultural, social and historical aspects of China. Chinese language subjects are organised in a progressive sequence (of units) from Chinese 1 through to Chinese 10. Entry and exit points are determined by the student's background in the language, placement testing, prerequisites or at the discretion of the Chinese Studies program. Students normally progress through the subjects in consecutive order. Mid-year entry is also possible into subjects with even numbers, subject to appropriate prior experience and approval from the head of the Chinese Studies program.

Classics

Classics is the study of the languages Ancient Greek and Latin, which have been taught at the University of Melbourne since its very foundation and have been a core element of higher education for many centuries. The overall objective of the Classics program is to introduce students to key literary texts from classical antiquity (including history, drama, oratory, philosophy, epic, and lyric poetry), and to enable students to discover the many important contributions which reading ancient texts in the original languages can make to understanding both the ancient world and the Western tradition. Knowledge of Ancient Greek and Latin is also very useful for research and training in such related disciplines as biochemistry, medicine, the history and philosophy of science, archaeology, Biblical studies, history, philosophy, art history, Romance language studies, English literary studies, and music.

Students who major in Classics may progress through one or both of these languages from beginners level (entry point 1) and are encouraged to take subjects in both languages. Students who have completed one of these languages at VCE may begin studying the language at entry point 3 and are required to commence studying the other classical language at level 1 (entry point 1).

Creative Writing

This major offers students the opportunity to explore their creative potential and to extend their work to avant-garde, cross-genre and experimental forms of writing. Students are encouraged to critically test the creative implications and the influence of contemporary theoretical and philosophical schools of thought in all forms of writing. Areas of specialisation include fiction, poetry, poetics, non-fiction, autobiography and writing for performance, theatre and screen.

Criminology

Criminology draws knowledge and perspectives from a range of disciplines such as law, sociology, psychology, psychiatry and history. Initially, criminology had a strong practical focus: its role was to advise governments on issues such as policing, the management of prisons, sentencing and offender treatment. Concern with policy and practice remains, but criminologists now work in a much wider range of fields including crime prevention, corporate and white-collar crime, business regulation, drug policy and consumer and environmental protection. Criminology doesn’t take crime and criminal law for granted. As an academic discipline it continually questions why different societies define and respond to crime in different ways, and why approaches to punishment and other forms of social control have varied so much from era to era. Increasingly criminologists also study the ways cultures depict crime: whether in newspapers, television and other mass media or in films, novels and art.

Development Studies

Development Studies is a dynamic field concerned with processes of social, economic, political and cultural change in the global South. This minor provides students the opportunity to critically examine processes of managed change in the developing world, as well as a skills set to intervene in such processes. Through this programme, students will better understand the nature of policies and relationships at local, national and international levels that have shaped poverty, inequality and insecurity in the contemporary world. We examine themes such as debt and global poverty, environmental sustainability, the relationship between citizens and the state, culture and human rights, globalisation, national sovereignty, gender inequity, social exclusion, health, and migration.

Economics

English Language Studies

English Language Studies enhances the effective use of the most widely spoken language in the world. Students develop an understanding of its history, its subtle and intricate grammar, and the status of its many social and geographical varieties.

English and Theatre Studies

English and Theatre Studies is a combined program and students can specialise in either areas. It offers studies in imaginative writing and dramatic performance, focusing on their form, content, traditions and practices, and on the myriad ways they engage with the everyday world. The program offers subjects in a wide range of areas, from the Medieval and Early Modern to Romanticism, Modernism, and contemporary literature and performance. This includes British, Australian, American and postcolonial writing and theatre, and literary, cultural and performance theory. English and Theatre Studies at the University of Melbourne is recognised nationally and internationally for its innovative teaching, scholarship and research.

Environmental Studies

European Studies

European Studies is a cross-disciplinary program that focuses on European culture, society and languages. Students complete core European Studies subjects and can also choose to take subjects from areas such as history, literary studies, languages, philosophy, politics and art history.

French Studies

French is one of the world's major international languages: it is spoken by over 200 million people in 43 countries, on five continents. Knowledge of French may increase access to careers in international relations, development studies, business, science and the arts.

The overall objective of the French Studies program is to teach students to process information from a wide variety of materials in French, both written and spoken, and to produce accounts and discussions of that information in a variety of forms. In subjects at all levels, you will be guided towards undertaking independent research projects into areas including language, literature, politics, cinema, theatre, travel writing, food and wine, immigration and identity.

The core subjects in French are organised in a progressive sequence from French 1 through to French 7. Entry and exit points are determined by the French Studies program based on the student’s background in the language, placement testing or prerequisites. Students normally progress through the subjects in consecutive order. Mid-year entry is also possible into subjects with even numbers, subject to appropriate prior experience and approval from the head of the French program. Accelerated progression is possible on advice from the French Program.

Gender Studies

Gender Studies considers the significance of gender and sexuality across a broad range of cultural contexts, identities and histories. The program analyses how gender intersects with crucial issues such as ageing, class, disability, ethnicity and globalisation. Subjects consider ideas about femininity, masculinity and sexuality through close engagement with an extensive variety of theorists, case studies and media. Gender Studies is transdisciplinary and draws on the diverse interests of specialists located throughout the Faculty. This enables its students to develop a unique combination of research skills drawn from both the Arts and Social Sciences.

Geography

Geography is the investigation and understanding of the dynamic relationships between societies and environments. The discipline raises and answers questions about why these relationships are the way they are, how and why they are changing, and how and why their characteristics vary over time and space. Geographers study human actions and activities from the local scale to the global scale. Geography is one of the few disciplines that encompasses very different ways of knowing - those of science and those of the humanities and social sciences - in its approach to the world’s urgent problems and injustices. As such it is a globally-minded discipline that seeks to understand the complex connections between people and place in order to work towards a more equitable world.

The BA Major in Geography allows students both breadth and specificity in the study of Geography. Specific pathways within the Major are dedicated to the study of urban geography, cultural geography, development geography, environmental geography (especially focused on climate change issues and debates) and Asia-Pacific geography. Field classes in Australia and overseas (at 200-level and 300-level) offer students the opportunity to explore and examine geographical issues, policy and problems first-hand.

German Studies

German has more than 100 million native speakers and is the third most popular foreign language world-wide. Knowledge of German opens up the rich culture of German-speaking Europe as well as its history, philosophy, literature, music and scientific traditions. The German Studies program has a proud history of more than half a century at the University of Melbourne and provides students with the opportunity to complete part of their studies overseas through scholarships and exchange programs.

German language subjects are organised in a progressive sequence of units from German 1 through to German 10 and has four entry points (German Studies 1, 3, 5 and 7). Placement in the correct entry point is determined by the German Studiesprogram, based on the results of the online placement test. Hence all students who enrol in German at The University of Melbourne for the first time need to undertake the placement test. Thereafter students normally progress through the sequence in consecutive order. Accelerated progression is possible with the permission of the course convenor. Mid-year entry is also possible into subjects with even numbers.

Hebrew and Jewish Studies

The Hebrew and Jewish Studies program offers an unparalleled opportunity to study the development of Jewish civilization, Israeli history and culture, and the study of the Hebrew language. Hebrew and Jewish Studies investigate the history, literature, archaeology, philosophy, ethnography and social theory of Jewish society and culture. Students are encouraged to engage in contemporary debates about ethnicity and identity, assimilation, exile and Diaspora cultures. Students benefit from the interdisciplinary breadth and the opportunity to combine this with options in Hebrew language study which is taught from beginners to advanced level. Students explore topics that draw on extensive archival resources available in Australia and internationally.

History

The History curriculum offers students the opportunity to understand the worlds of the past, to reflect on the making of the present, and to develop the capacities to locate information, analyse evidence, think critically, and communicate effectively. The discipline offers both great range and detailed attention to particular places, times, and themes. Courses extend from the medieval world and the great empires to our most immediate past; all offerings reflect the latest developments in historical research and vocational practice.

History and Philosophy of Science

The aim of History and Philosophy of Science is to understand science: how it works, its historical development and its function in modern society. History and Philosophy of Science integrates philosophical, historical and sociological approaches to the study of science. It thus provides students with an insight into scientific methods and objectives without actually having to do science. Students will gain analytical skills in evaluating scientific (and non-scientific) knowledge as well as a broad understanding of the historical development of science in its interactions with philosophy, religion and society.

Indonesian Studies

The undergraduate program in Indonesian Studies comprises coursework designed to build students' knowledge and skills in understanding and analysing Indonesian language and society.

Indonesian language subjects are organised in a progressive sequence (of units) from Indonesian 1 through to Indonesian 6, with 4 additional advanced units. Entry points are determined by the student’s background in the language, placement testing, prerequisites, or at the discretion of the Indonesian Studies program. Students normally progress through the subjects in consecutive order. Mid-year entry is also possible, subject to appropriate prior experience and approval from the convenor of the Indonesian Studies program.

Islamic Studies

The Islamic Studies program offers students an opportunity to study the development of Islamic history, civilisation and culture from an interdisciplinary perspective. Students will gain insight into and understanding of key areas associated with Islamic Studies such as the foundation texts, early and modern history, philosophical and political thought. Muslim societies in majority and minority contexts, unity and diversity, as well as ethnicity and identity. Subjects in Islamic Studies are taught in English.

Italian Studies

Italian is one of the world’s most important languages strongly influencing languages and cultures around the world. A knowledge of Italian opens up access to a wide range of areas, including history, art, music, as well as to other languages, such as French and Spanish. The overall objective of the Italian Studies program is to teach students to process information from a wide variety of materials in Italian, both written and spoken, and to produce accounts and discussions of that information in a variety of forms. In subjects at all levels, you will be guided towards undertaking independent research projects into areas including language, literature, politics, cinema, theatre, travel writing, food and wine, immigration and identity.

Italian language subjects are organised in a progressive sequence (of units) from Italian 1 through to Italian 6 and beyond. Entry and exit points are determined by the student’s background in the language, placement testing if required, prerequisites, or at the discretion of the Italian Program. Students normally progress through the subjects in consecutive order. Mid-year entry is also possible into subjects with even numbers, subject to appropriate prior experience and approval from the head of the Italian Studies program. Accelerated progression is possible on advice from the Italian Studies program.

Japanese Studies

The undergraduate program in Japanese Studies comprises coursework designed to build students’ knowledge and skills in understanding and analysing Japanese language and society.

Japanese subjects are organised in a progressive sequence (of units) from Japanese 1 through to Japanese 8 with several additional units. Entry and exit points are determined by the student’s background in the language, placement testing, prerequisites, or at the discretion of the Japanese program. Students normally progress through the subjects in consecutive order. Mid-year entry is also possible into subjects with even numbers, subject to appropriate prior experience and approval from the convenor of the Japanese Studies program.

The language-society subjects are designed to maximise acquisition of the language and to develop their communication skills in various types of texts, interactional contexts and strategic aspects of meaning making. The curriculum also allows students to develop a broad understanding of cultural, social and historical aspects of Japan. Non-language subjects such as Social Problems in Japan help students understand the complexity and diversity of the society, and challenge stereotypes. Teaching staff create a meeting place where students from a variety of cultural backgrounds can explore intercultural language activities to promote intercultural as well as communicative competence.

Knowledge and Learning

A Knowledge and Learning minor offers students the opportunity to examine the ways in which differing forms of knowledge are constructed, produced, managed, and disseminated – and the learning processes which support this in a range of social, historical and political contexts. A key focus of the subjects in this sequence is an engagement with the production, transmission and reception of knowledge. This minor is jointly taught by teaching staff in the Faculty of Arts and Melbourne Graduate School of Education.

Law and Justice

A Law and Justice minor offers students the opportunity to examine the capacity and power of law to deliver justice in a range of social, historical and political contexts. A key focus of the subjects in this sequence is an engagement with the origins and effects of law’s processes.

To complete the minor, students must take 6 subjects, selecting from a total of 8. There is one compulsory subject at each year level (two in Arts, one in Law). Overall, two Law subjects, taught by members of the Melbourne Law School, and six Arts subjects taught by members of the Discipline of Criminology in the School of Social and Political Sciences will be offered as part of the minor. The minor is not designed as either a pre-requisite for nor as a guaranteed pathway into the Melbourne JD; rather, it provides a concentration on law and justice issues within the BA and as breadth.

Linguistics and Applied Linguistics

Linguistics is the study of language in all its aspects including its structure, its diversity, how it changes and evolves, how people learn and make use of it to communicate, and how it is implicated in relations of power. It provides students with an insight into the most fundamental of all human faculties, develops strong analytical skills and a foundation for work in many diverse areas.

Media and Communications

Media and Communications offers students foundational knowledge for the 21st century. It equips students with a critical understanding of the constantly changing global media environments and technologies, and provides core research and professional skills valued across a range of media sectors. The wide array of subjects that comprise the Media and Communications major cover key developments in media industries, new communication technologies, and their impact on politics, society and culture. While the main focus is on Australia and the Asia-Pacific, the course has a global orientation, reflecting today’s increasingly interconnected media systems, markets, and production ecologies of contemporary digital networks.

Philosophy

Philosophy is the study of the most fundamental aspects of reality and value. Every area of inquiry and endeavour—from art and history through politics and economics to biology and mathematics—generates philosophical issues about our world and our place in it. Philosophers debate the meaning of life and the meaning of adverbs, the analysis of Divine foreknowledge and the analysis of colour, the nature of mathematics and the nature of terrorism.

Work in philosophy involves the creative, critical task of constructing, clarifying and comparing ideas. We dig into the fundamental assumptions beneath our everyday views, to see how they hang together, how they can be improved, or how we might have reason to prefer one over another. We learn to take conflicting views seriously, to clarify imprecise concepts, and to synthesize new positions.

You learn both traditional and contemporary approaches to individual topics in Philosophy. In tutorials and written work you practice the important skill of advancing cogent and informed arguments of your own.

Students go on to apply their philosophical skills in a wide range of different careers where creative and analytic thinking is useful, such as law, education, analysis, advocacy and policy development.

Politics and International Studies

The Major in Politics and International Studies enables students to develop an understanding of the main political issues, institutions, ideas, policies and actors that dominate local, national and international agendas. It includes the study of identity and community, power and how it is exercised and contested, democracy, the state and state system, governance beyond and below the state, public policy, political movements, war and conflict and conflict-resolution. The Major offers subjects on these themes from a variety of perspectives in political science, including international relations, public policy, political theory, political economy, comparative politics, Australian politics, indigenous studies, regional studies and feminism and gender studies, as well as subjects on research methods.

Psychology

Psychology is a broad and intellectually fascinating scientific discipline focussed on understanding behaviour and experience, particularly in humans. The science of psychology involves a wide range of perspectives and approaches, with psychological research findings having important applications in areas such as health, education, business, and commerce, as well as informing us about how human behaviours and motivations relate to a wide range of societal issues.

Taught at the University since the late 1800s, the Psychology undergraduate program is designed to provide students with flexibility and choice, offering a broad range of subjects that provide a thorough and extensive grounding in the discipline. Studies in psychology prepare graduates for a diverse range of careers that are based on understanding human behaviour, including health, education, industry, commerce, welfare and government.

Completion of a Psychology major accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) is the first step towards registration as a practicing psychologist, or towards a career as a research psychologist.

The APAC accredited psychology major provides a strong grounding in basic psychological concepts and theories in the areas of biological, cognitive, developmental, social, and clinical psychology. Students will also develop skills in research methods and data analysis, and an advanced knowledge in at least one domain of psychology. A non-APAC-accredited 75 point minor sequence is also available within the Bachelor of Arts.

Russian Studies

Russian is one of the world's major international languages: it is spoken by over 140 million people and is one of the six official languages of the United Nations. A knowledge of Russian may increase access to careers in international relations, development studies, business, science and the arts.

The overall objective of the Russian Studies program is to teach students to process information from a wide variety of materials in Russian, both written and spoken, and to produce accounts and discussions of that information in a variety of forms.

The core Russian language subjects are organised in a progressive sequence from Russian 1 through to Russian 6. Entry and exit points are determined by the Russian Studies program based on the student’s background in the language, placement testing or prerequisites. Students normally progress through the subjects in consecutive order. Mid-year entry is also possible into subjects with even numbers, subject to appropriate prior experience and approval from the head of the Russian program. Accelerated progression is possible on advice from the Russian Studies program.

Screen and Cultural Studies

Screen and Cultural Studies is a combined program and students can specialise in either area. The combined program covers the fields of film and popular media; screen histories; Australian, Hollywood, European and Asian cinemas; everyday life; television and entertainment; film genres including avant garde and documentary; computer games; the Internet and the representation of global cultures. The major introduces students to the development and history of film and cultural studies. Theories include film and screen aesthetics; identity and gender; sexuality and spectatorship; media globalization; narrative structures and class ideologies. Students encounter a variety of screen media, net-based and popular cultures; engage cultural texts, sites and practices from a range of interpretive angles, including lifestyle and consumer studies, subcultural studies, and critical studies of sexuality, race and cultural globalization, and; explore their histories, significance and theories that help make sense of how they relate to power, commerce and lived culture today. Through innovative teaching, students in Screen and Cultural Studies encounter new ways of analysing contemporary screen media and culture. Academic staff in the discipline are specialists in screen cultures and media histories; entertainment cultures; gender, race and sexulaity; postcolonialism and migration; European and Asian cinemas; cultural policy, and; media archaeology.

Sociology

Sociology engages with central dimensions of life in contemporary societies, from transformations in the life course, contemporary families, gender relations, ethnic, racial and sexual identity, and the body, through to media, new technologies, and globalisation. It engages with emerging patterns of social inequality and new forms of social problems, and the ways in which people and societies confront these new challenges. Sociology also explores emerging questions of action and identity – from new social movements to subcultures to forms of action evident in contemporary social transformations.

Spanish and Latin American Studies

The Spanish and Latin American studies program at The University of Melbourne offers language options at all levels together with a growing number of cultural studies subjects in topics as diverse as literature (from Don Quixote to contemporary classics), cinema, popular culture, food studies, gender studies, and area studies in both European and Latin American studies.

The Spanish and Latin American Studies program will allow you to acquire and improve your Spanish language skills and increase your awareness of Spanish and Latin American culture through a variety of authentic written and spoken and visual materials. You will also learn to interact with other Spanish speakers at a sophisticated level. The program also provides opportunities to undertake independent research projects into different multidiscplinary areas of study including language, literature, culture, politics, cinema, theatre, music, food and identity. The program has agreements with universities in Spain and Latin America, which allow students to undertake exchange and study abroad options as part of their Spanish studies.

Spanish language subjects are organised in a progressive sequence (of units) from Spanish 1 to 7 through to the Spanish Electives. Students may enter at any point, subject to placement testing and/or prerequisites, and normally progress through the sequence in consecutive order. Accelerated progression and mid-year entry are also possible in special cases with the permission of the course convenor. Mid-year entry is also possible into subjects with even numbers.

Concurrent Diplomas

Want to be an economics reporter with first-class programming skills or a side gig playing the cello? Concurrent diplomas allow you to study an extra qualification alongside your degree. This can enhance your employability and enable you to develop detailed knowledge in an area outside your main area of study. A concurrent diploma consists of 100 credit points and usually involves an additional year of full-time study.

Concurrent Diplomas

Diploma in Languages

Diploma in Languages

The Diploma in Languages (D-Lang) is a concurrent program and provides students with the opportunity to undertake language study while completing an undergraduate, graduate coursework or RHD program at the University of Melbourne.

There are 12 languages available all offering a sequenced path of study commencing at entry point 1 (beginners), entry point 3 or entry point 5 (post VCE) and continuing through to proficiency level 6 (advanced). Some languages offer advanced entry points (see individual languages for further information). Students are able to commence the program at different entry points pending on proficiency.

The Diploma in Languages will usually add one year duration to your studies. Undergraduate students have the option to fast track and may complete both programs in three and a half or three years. The duration for graduate coursework students varies on their program, advice and permission for graduates should be sought from their home Faculty prior to application.

The Diploma may only be awarded on the completion of both programs. The final 50 points of the Diploma in Languages is HECS-exempt for undergraduate students only. Domestic students enrolled in a Graduate Coursework or Research Higher Degree course will have access to Commonwealth supported places. International Graduate Coursework and RHD students will attract International undergraduate fees for the Diploma in Languages.

Diploma in Mathematical Sciences

The Diploma in Mathematical Sciences is a 100-point diploma, normally taken concurrently with an undergraduate degree.

The Diploma in Mathematical Sciences is a great way to use and develop your mathematical skills and complement your undergraduate studies. The high-level numerical and modelling skills you will gain can be applied across almost every area of employment and are always in demand.

This diploma is studied concurrently on a part-time basis with a bachelor degree. Within the Diploma, students will complete the requirements of the Mathematics and Statistics major from the Bachelor of Science. The Diploma consists of 1 year EFTSL of study completed concurrently with an undergraduate degree usually over 3-4 years.

Please note: The Diploma in Mathematical Sciences is not available to students enrolled in the Bachelor of Science who are taking the Data Science, Mathematics and Statistics or Mathematical Physics majors.

Diploma in Music

The Diploma in Music provides students with the opportunity to undertake a tailored sequence of music study and gain a music qualification while completing an undergraduate degree in another field at The University of Melbourne. It is available to students enrolled in an undergraduate degree other than the Bachelor of Music and the Bachelor of Fine Arts. It is studied concurrently with the bachelor degree.

Diploma in Music students study for a music qualification alongside Bachelor of Music students, giving the opportunity to build valuable friendships and networks in a challenging musical environment. A range of study options is available across all areas of specialisation within the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, including practical music, ensemble music performance, aural studies, composition, improvisation, music history and theory. Students are encouraged to follow their own areas of interest, constructing a bespoke program of study from the range of elective choices available.

The Diploma may only be awarded on the completion of the concurrent degree course. This means that graduation from the Diploma will only occur at the same time as graduation from the concurrent course.

Diploma in Computing

The Diploma in Computing will provide students in almost all areas of study with the option of complementing their principal undergraduate major with a program in the IT area, designed to give them familiarity with a range of data manipulation and presentation techniques. The delivery format via a concurrent diploma is designed to build on and extend students’ main study, with the expectation that students will contribute problems and challenges from their main study area to their Diploma subjects.

Breadth

A breadth subject is one taken from outside your core studies or major. Most University of Melbourne undergraduates take breadth subjects. Not only will breadth provide you with a greater understanding of the world around you, it will allow you to tailor your course to fit your individual passions and career ambitions. You might, for example, study Science but take breadth in Mandarin Chinese – a great choice for a scientist looking to work internationally and help solve global issues.

You can also use breadth to explore something you’ve always been curious about or to improve your career prospects by complementing your major with a language, communications skills, or business knowhow. ‘Breadth tracks’ (groups of subjects taken throughout your degree) may even qualify you for graduate study in a field that’s very different to your major.

Explore the range of breadth tracks below to see how you can follow your passion or support your career ambitions!

Breadth

Engineering and Environments

Engineering and Environments

<p style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; margin: 0px;">This track gives students an insight into some fundamental principles of engineering and how engineering interacts with the social and natural environmental settings where water and soil are fundamental resources for human development.</p>

Genetics and Society

Geology in the field

This breadth track will provide students with a broad introduction to geological processes and equip them with important skills in how to map out and read the geological record. Students will apply and improve these skills by undertaking fieldwork.</p>

Feeding the World's Population

Food is essential to human life on Earth, and is inextricably bound up in our biology, culture and beliefs. Learn about the current and future challenges of global food production, supply, and consumption and discover how food production in Australia is changing to meet the environment and society's changing needs.</p>

Mathematics for Economics

Music, Mind and Wellbeing

This breadth track explores issues related to music, mind and wellbeing, including development of musical skills at different life stages, the relationship between music and the brain, as well as music and the body and examination of psychological, sociological and scientific research related to performing and creating music.</p>

Property

Property in the Urban Economy

This breadth track provides an introduction to the role of property in the urban economy. Students completing this sequence will be eligible for a credit in Property Markets & Valuation in the 300-point Master of Property or the Graduate Diploma in Property Valuation.</p>

Deafness and Communication

This breadth track explores issues related to Deafness and communication, from a wide range of perspectives including social, cultural, and technological. There is also a focus on visual communication and Auslan, the language of the Australian signing Deaf community.

Knowing and Learning

Positive individuals, organisations and communities

This breadth track explores issues related to positive psychology, with a focus on the relationship between well-being, pro-social behaviour and peak performance at the individual, group and community levels.

Living with Plants

Living with plants focuses on the interaction of plants with the landscape, climate and production system, theory and practice of planting within the built environment considering sustainable plant selection and design.</p>

Mathematics and Statistics

This breadth track progressively develops knowledge and skills in mathematics and statistics. It commences with the standard first year package for students with VCE Specialist mathematics or equivalent and progresses to a choice of Level 2 subjects to introduce students to the fields of pure mathematics, applied mathematics or probability.</p>

Climate Change

Climate and Water

<p style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; margin: 0px;">Climate and Water integrates the major challenges being faced both nationally and internationally integrating knowledge across disciplines to provide strategies for developing appropriate responses to these challenges.</p>

Quantitative Methods in Economics

Studies in western music

This breadth track introduces students to fundamental musical concepts including rhythm, melody, harmony, timbre, texture, dynamics and form, and explores the history, culture and social context of western music from the middle ages to the 21st century.</p>

Wine and Food

Explores the interaction between food and wine including the practice of drinking wine and matching food, and also raises some of the conflicting issues on the associated social, economic and health impacts on society.</p>

Biotechnology

This track will introduce students to the principles of biotechnology, which is the use and manipulation of living organisms, or substances obtained from these organisms, to make products of value to humanity.</p>

Forests and Fire

Forests and fire introduces students to forests from social, historical, environmental and economic perspectives and provides an understanding of the effects of fuel, weather and climate on the nature and periodicity of bushfires, as well as the social and economic impact of bushfires.</p>

Law - Business and Work Law

Introduction to Construction

This breadth track provides an introduction to the construction industry at a residential level covering basic structures, materials, construction methods and management of the construction process.</p>

Architectural History

Living in Australia's Hazardous Ecosystems

Living in Australia&#x02019;s Hazardous Ecosystems looks at the systems that shape the natural world, including the evolution of the planet Earth, our climate and global weather and the formation and processes of our present landscapes and associated ecosystems. Students will gain an understanding of the increasing trend to urbanisation and larger cities as a contributor to the rising toll of disaster losses globally.</p>

Microbiology and immunology

Music Theatre: A Practice Led Study

This breadth track includes practice led critical studies in music theatre, giving students an opportunity to learn by doing, whilst developing critical thinking and listening skills. In each subject, practical, group singing tutorials are complemented by an engaging lecture series to give students an understanding of what they are embodying when performing some of the most significant and well-known material from the music theatre canon.

Natural systems and our designed world

People and Environment

This breadth track introduces students to different ways of thinking about human-environment relationships and provides frameworks relevant to considering human dimensions of environmental policy and management.</p>

Architecture

This breadth track introduces students to the basics of architectural design and history and provide students with the prerequisite subjects to apply for entry into the 300-point Master of Architecture.</p>

Cell and Developmental Biology

This track will develop a student&#x02019;s general interest in biology and focus particularly on how cells function, particularly in the context of multicellular organisms. With emphasis on current research methodologies, it provides insights into how cells &#x02018;translate&#x02019; the genetic code to produce and transport proteins to specific sites within or outside the cell to control processes required for cell survival, proliferation, movement and growth and how these processes controlled and orchestrated during the remarkable progression of a fertilised egg into an independent organism.</p>

Choral performance

Australian flora

This breadth track progressively develops knowledge and skills in Australian flora,and in the diversity of the plant kingdom. It provides a general approach to the different biomes of Australia and the adaptive biology of the plants and animals inhabiting those biomes, and to the different floristic bioregions of Victoria and their ecology. Plant Biodiversity introduces the structure, biology and evolution of the major groups of land plants, with examples from the Australian flora.</p>

Construction

<p style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; margin: 0px;">This breadth track for BCom students qualifies students to apply for a 200-point (two-year) Master of Construction Management. Note that BCom students are exempt from the normal prerequisite for Residential Construction and Structures.</p>